sheehy



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

R. J. SHEBHY. TYPE4 'WRITING' MACHINE. No. 304,463. vPatented Sept. 2, 1884.

WITNESSES l INVENTOR I By his zzforneys oez N PETERS, PhuwLilhngmpher. waihingmn, un

Unirse' rares ROBERT VJ. SHEEHY,

OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

l TYPE-wmTiNe MACHINE.

SPECIFCA TION forming part of Letters Patent No.304,463, dated September 2, 1884.

Application filed Aplil 5, 1883.

the city of New York, in the county and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful" Improvements in Type XVriters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of a class of instruments employed for mechanically printing words and sentences character by character, and commonly designated as page-and-line77 The object ofthe invention is to provide an instrument which will render its impressions in uniform lines and with the same distinctness, which is not liable to become inoperative through constant use, which does not depend upon the force of the touch given by theoperator to effect the impressions, and which presents each character to view as soon as printed.

The invention consists in a general organization of devices for conveying` the paper laterally and vertically as required for receiving` the impressions; for causing` the individual type to be successively presented to the paper;

lfor arresting the same in the proper position to effect the impression of any required character, and for actuating that type when it has been thus arrested. The individual type are supported at the extremities of an annular series 'of vertical levers, and are arranged to be revolved before the paper upon which the impressions are to be effected by means ofl a constant force applied through a shaft mechanically coupled therewith. Aseries of keylevers is provided for arresting the movement of this shaft in any one of the positions which it assumes during the timethe successive type are presented to the paper, thereby rendering` it possible, by actuating the proper key, to arrest any required type in position to imprint the character which it represents upon the paper. A toothed wheel tending to revolve in a given direction, but ynormally held in check, is automatically released by the action of the lever arresting the series of type, and acts to cause the character of the particular type to be imprinted.

The invention further comprises certain de- (No model.)

Vices for releasing the type when the impression has been effected, and for simultaneously advancing the carriage; also, certain subsidiary devices, all of which will be fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of an instrument involving the features of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 illustrates certain details in the construction of the type-support. Fig. 4 is a detail drawing of a typelever.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the base upon which the various ,parts of the instrument rest, and A a skeleton frame, forming a support for the different portions of the same.

At the rear portion of thc machine is placed the paper-carriage B. This portion of the instrument comprises a paper-carrying roll, v b', supported at its respective extremities upon two arms, bl b3, of the carriage-frame B', from which a continuous sheet of paper is supplied to an impression-roller b, The paper is pressed against the surface of the impression-roller by means of twoelastic bands, b5 b5, respectively placed near the opposite extremities of the roller and passing over two pulleys, b6 b and bT bl, supported upon pivoted arms bs b8 and b b. The frame B', which supports the rollers b and b", is provided with two'pairs of grooved rollers, c and c2, which are supported upon axes c at the lower portion of the frame. These Wheels run upon two track-rails, c4 and ci", extending parallel with the direction of motion of the carriage B, and they are of such length as to permit a sufficient excursion on the part ofthe carriage to allow the impressionroller b* to be carried. backward and forward before the type. The track-rails c* and cfare provided with downwardly-projecting flanges, upon which run four small wheels, c, also pivoted to the frame B and serving to pre- 95 vent the carriage from being raised from the rails. The carriage B carries a rack-bar, el, into which meshes a pinion, es, for controlling the movement of the carriage. The pinion c8 is feathered to an arbor or shaft, c, extending at right angles to the direction of motion of Athe carriage, and capable of being moved out IOO,

a lever, S, and fork cw, fitting into an annular groove formed in a collar, c, of thepinion.

For the purpose of revolving the roller b4, a

flexible shaft,cl, is provided. One end of this shaft is attached to the extremity of the axis d2, upon which the drum or roller b* revolves, while the other extremity of the same is fastcned to the arbor of a ratchet-wheel, d, sup- Io ported on the frame A. A suitable device,

hereinafter described, is employed for imparting to this wheel an advance movement, as required. This movement is communicated to the drum b4 through the flexible shaft d',

I5 and the paper is thus advanced through the space represented by one line for each movement. The shaft d is constructed to exert upon the carriage B a force tending to move the same in the right-hand direction, and thus 2o to return it to the position for commencing a line.

Extending through the length of the instrument is a shaft, E, supported at its respective extremities in the frame A. The shaft E ex- 2 5 tends beyond the frame A at oneextremity, and is provided with a pulley-wheel, drum, or other suitable device, e', by means of which the shaft is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow Upon the shaft E is carried a beveled gearwheel, e2, which meshes with a corresponding wheel, e3, carried upon a shaft, F, extending at right angles to the shaft E. The shaft F has a bearing at fvin the frame A, and a second bearing in an arm, f2, extending above the same. Upon this shaft is carried an annular support or fulerum-disk, y', to which support -are pivoted the individual levers of a cylin- (of engagement with the rack-bar by means of dricall series, G. The support or fulcrum-A 4o disk g is adjustably secured to the shaft by means of a set-screw, g3, extending through a collar, g4. From the upper portion of this collar four arms, g5, radiate and support a web, g8, carrying an annular enlargement, gf.

Within t-he face of this ring g is formed an annular groove, gl. The face of the ring g6 is further provided with aseries of vertical diskshaped slots or openings, h, for receiving the fulerums of the levers of the series G. The

zo levers g each consists of a flat disk-shaped portion, ht', which fits within the corresponding opening 7L. From the upper side of the disk h2 extends an arm, hf, carrying at its upper extremity a type, t'. From the opposite side of the disk h2 projects a short arm, h4, extending below the support or fulcrum-disk g.

Secured to the shaft F, near the upper extremities of the levers .f/,is a skeleton guide or rest, J, against which the levers are pressed 6o when notin use. This rest Consists of aring, j', supported upon radial arms ji, and provided with wedge-shaped teeth j, projecting outward a short distance beyond the levers. One

' of these teeth extends between each two adj acent levers, and serves to prevent the same from vibrating laterally when the type-cylinder is rapidly revolved by the movement communicated to the shaft F through the wheels e2 and'et. The levers are normally held in their perpendicular position and between their respective teeth ja by means of an elastic band, j, embracing the cylindrical series G.

Having thus described the method of rotating the series of type before the paper, the method of arresting the cylinder in the required position and imprinting any required character will now be described.

A series of key-levers, K, is arranged at the front of the instrument, one key being provided for arresting the type-cylinder in the required position for effectingthe impression of each type in the series. The levers K are all pivoted to a common support, k', extending longitudinally through the instrument, and each lever is provided with an upwardly-projecting arm, k2, upon which is carried a rocklever, k3. The short arm of each lever 7c3 no1-- mally project-s into proximity to the path of a corresponding pin, k", carried upon the shaft or drum E. Vhen any key-lever K is actuated by depressing the outer end of the same, the short arm of the lever la is projected into the path of the corresponding pin 7c, and this pin acts first to depress that end of the lever, and then to arrest the movement of the shaft E. It will be evident thus that by depressing any key-lever K the type-cylinder will be caused to stand in a particular position dependent upon the angular position ofthe pin k, the path of which is thus blocked. The keys and pins are therefore arranged in such relative positions that any particular key which may be actuated will arrest the typecylindcr in the position required for imprinting a type bearing the character corresponding to that key. VVheu the type-cylinder has in this manner been arrested in the required position, the type presented to the paper is impressed thereon by means of a toothed wheel, m', acting upon the short arm h" of the corre-v sponding type-lever g. The toothed wheelm is secured to a sleeve, m2, surrounding one extremity of a fixed shaft, mi. A pulley or friction-wheel, m", is carried upon a correspond- 4ing sleeve, m5, at the opposite extremity of the shaft m, and the two are united by a coilspring, m6, surrounding the shaft.l The frietion-pulley an* is so connected with a corresponding pulley, mi, upon the shaft E by means of a belt, m8, that the normal revolution of the shaft will tend to revolve the pulley on* in the direction indicated by the arrow xt. This motion is communicated through the coil-spring m to the toothed wheel m. The wheel m', however, is normally retained by an anchoreseapement, n', carried upon the long arm of a lever, N. The revolution of the shaft E therefore normally tends to store up in the convolutions of the spring m a certain amount of energy dependent upon the leverage and friction between the wheels m* and m7 and the belt m8. After the spring is thus wound to the required tension, the belt m8 will simply slip upon one or the other of the wheels without roo IIO

further winding the spring. When it is desired to actuate one of the levers g, it is necessary only to release the wheel m from the anchor n and allow it to advance, under the action of the spring m8, one tooth. The long arm of the lever g will thereby be thrown forward andthe type t struck against an inkingribbon, 0, intervening between the same and the paper, and the type will thus be imprinted upon the paper. The short arm n3 of the lever N is attached to a light rod, a", which extends above the long arms ofthe entire series of rock-levers k3, but normally not in actual v contact therewith. So long as the rod n4 is in its normal position, one tooth of the anchor n engages the wheel m. When, however, any

key K is depressed and the corresponding pin k4 strikes against the lever 7a3, that lever will be turned upon the arm k2, and the long arm elevated through the rotary force of the shaft E. This movement of the lever causes the rod n4 to be elevated, and thus'the escapement n to be actuated, releasing the wheel m and allowing it to be revolved through the space occupied by one toot-h, and the lever g actuated in the manner indicated. When the lever g is in its forward position, the tooth of the wheel m by which it is actuated passes beneath the short arm, and the lever then resumes its normal position.

For the purpose of advancing the carriage at the completion of each impression, the

rack-bar c7 and pinion es, before referred to,

are employed. At one extremity of the arbor c", upon which the pinion is feathered, is carried a beveled gear-wheel, r', which meshes witha corresponding wheel, r2, placed at right angles therewith. The wheel e is carried upon a sleeve, r, which also carries an escapement-wheel, g, similar to the wheel m', but having its teeth set in the opposite direction. The sleeve r3 surrounds a fixed shaft, r, and is connected by means of a coil-spring, r", with a pulley, r6, carried upon a sleeve, rl, the entire organization vbeing similar to that described with reference to the shaft m3, spring ma, and pulley m4. The pulley r6 is connected by a belt or cord, rs, with a pulley, 1'", upon the sha-ft E, andthe motion of the latter tends to turn the wheel r in the direction indicated' by the arrow x, in amanner precisely similar to that described with reference to the wheel m. The escapement device Q is normally held in check by an anchor, q2. Vhen, however, this anchor is actuated, the wheel q is permitted to advance one tooth for each complete forward and backward movement. The escapement (j constitutes the long arm of a lever, Q, the short arm q of which extends above the rod at. Each time the rod n is elevated the escapement q2. will be actuated through this lever, and as it returns to its normal position the wheel q will be advanced one tooth. This movement will be communicated to the pinion e, and thus to the carriage B. The relative parts are so adjusted that eaehtime the eseapement q2 is actuated the -of which is supported a vertical rod, (ZG.

possible to advance the carriage in this manner without first printing a character, a keylever, K', is provided, which is supplied with an arm, p, extending into proximity to an arm, p2, affixed to the arbor p of the lever Q. When the lever K is depressed, the arm p engages the arm p2 and actuates the lever Q in the manner already described with reference to the keys K. For the purpose of permitting the carriage to be returned to its starting-point when it is desired to commence a new line, a key-lever, K2, is provided with means by which the pinion cs is moved out of engagement with the rack-bar c7. The lever K2 is provided with an arm, s', extending into proximity to one arm, s2, of alever, S.

e8. The pinion cS is normally held in its forward position, engaging the rack-bar e7, by means of a spring, s4, acting upon the lever S. When, however, the key-lever K2 is depressed, the pinion 'cs will be moved upon the arbor e, through the agency of the lever S, out of engagement with the rack-bar c7, and the earriage B will then befree to move to the rightha-nd limit of its excursion4 through the retractile force exerted by the iexible shaft d.

A pneumatic cushion, Y. of any suitable construction, is placed at the right-hand limit of the excursion of the carriage B for receiving the blow of the carriage when it is returned under the influence of the spring-shaft d. Vhen the carriage is thus returned to its starting-point, it is desirable that the drum b be automatically revolved for the purpose of carrying the paper upward, preparatory to printing a new line. This end is accomplished by placing upon the extremity ofthe carriage B, proximate to the ratchet-wheel d, before ters between two teeth of said wheel d3, and

causes it to be advanced one tooth. The shaft d communicates this motion to the drum Z14 in the manner already described.

In addition to the device just described, a key-lever, K3, is provided for revolving the drum b" at any point in the excursion of the carriage B. The lever K3 is preferably placed at the extreme right of the series K, and is constructed with an arm, d5, above the extremity The upper extremity of the rod d engages the teeth ofthe ratchet-wheel d3, and when an upward movement is communicated to the same by depressing the key K3 the rod acts to advance the ratchet-wheel one tooth, and thus to actuate the drum Zf. A pawl, d", is employed for retaining the wheel diin its advanced position.

IOO

IlO

which the impressions are rendered distincarried at the extremity of an arm, i5, whichV is pivoted to a suitable support, t, extending from the frame A. A rod, t7, the lower extremity of which is attached to the bar or rod a4, extends upward to and is pivoted with the arm 135. Each time, therefore, that any keylever K is actuated the rod t7 will be thrown upward, and the arm i5 and guide T elevated. The parts are so adjusted that while the ribbon o is thus normally held down a sufficient distance that it may not hide the characters whiehhave been printed, it will nevertheless be raised each time a new character is to be imprinted, and will for the moment intervene between the type and the paper.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a revolving shaft, ascries of type independently supported upon a corresponding series of fulcrumed levers, a movable papercarriage, a series of key-levers, each acting, when depressed, to arrest the motion of said shaft and series of type in a predetermined position, and a system of levers acting through the agency of the force exerted by said shaft to permit the particular type corresponding with the key depressed to be impelled toward said paper-carriage.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a revolving shaft, a series of fulcrumed levers revolving in unison therewith, a series of type respectively carried upon said levers, a series of key-levers respectively corresponding with said type, a series of pins carried upon said shaft and respectively corresponding with said key-levers, and a system of levers whereby the movement of said series of type may be arrested by the depression of any one of-said key-levers, and lthe type corresponding therewith actuated.

3. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a key-lever, a revolving shaft, a pin carried upon said shaft, a second lever pivoted to said key-lever and arranged to be thrown into the path of said pin by the depression of said key-lever, au escapenient device actuated by said second lever, and a type corresponding with said key-lever actuated through the agency ot said escapement device. v

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a key-lever, a revolving shaft, a piu or projection upon said shaft, a second lever pivoted to said key-lever and arranged to be thrown into the path of said pin or projection by the depression of said keylevcr, and a third lever actuated by said sccond lever.

5. The combination, substantially ashereinbefore set forth, of a revolving shaft, a pin or projection upon said shaft, a pivoted lever, means, substantially such as described, for projecting one arln of said lever into the path of said pin or projection, a type-lever, a toothed wheel for actuating said type-lever, means, substantially su ch as described, for imparting to said wheel a tendency to revolve in a given direction, an escapement acting to check said tendency, and an arm extending from said cscapement into the path of said pivoted lever, whereby said escapement may be operated to release said wheel and permit said type-lever to be actuated when said pivoted lever is projected into the path of said pin.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore vset forth, of a movable paper-carriage, a rack-bar secured to said carriage, apinion engaging said rack-bar, a con ti nuously-revolving shaft, means, substantially such as described, for communicating from said shaft to said pinion a tendency to revolve in a given direction, an escapement device for controlling said tendency, and a series of levers, through the instrumentality of any oneof which said escapernent device may be operated to allow said-pinion to be advanced.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a paper-carriage, a device tending to impel said carriage in one direction, a rack-bar affixed to said carriage, apinion engaging said rack-bar, means, substantially such as described, tending to com-municatc to said carriage through said pinion a motion in the opposite direction, an escapement for controlling the action of said pinion, means, substantially such as described, for operating said escapement, and a system of levers whereby said pinion may be disengaged from said rack-bar.

S. rllle combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a revolving shaft, a series of type-levers revolving synchronously there` with, a toothed wheel. for actuating said levers, an escapcment for controlling the movements of said toothed wheel, a pulley, a yielding frictional connection between said pulley and shaft, and a coil-spring uniting said pulley with said toothed wheel.

9. rlhe combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the revolving series of fulcrumed levers, the series of type respectively supported upon said levers, the longitudinallymovable carriage, the supporting-track for said carriage,- aud the wheels moving along Asaid track.

lO. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a revolving shaft, apulley, ayielding frietional connection between said shaft and pulley, a toothed wheel, a coilspring uniting said pulley with said toothed wheel, an escapement for controlling the movements of said toothed wheel, a series of levers, and means, substantially such as described, for actuating said escapement through the agency of any one of said levers and said revolving shaft.

11. The combination, substantially as here-A inbefore set forth, of au annular series of fulerumed levers, a series of type respectively supported thereon, means, substantially such as described, for revolving the same, and

IOO

IIO

means, substantially such as described, for actuating any one of said type independently of the remaining type.

12. A type-cylinder consisting of the series of type-levers g, having arms h3 and hi, the annular support g, to which said type-levers are pivoted, the independent guide J, and a central shaft or axis, to which said annular support and guide are secured.

13. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the annular series of typelevers7 the annular support for said levers, and the guide or rest J, comprising the ring j and the radiating wedge-shaped teeth j,

14. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the type-lever support, the annular series of type-levers, the vertical shaft for carrying the same, the guide or rest havingjthe wedge-shaped teeth, between which Said levers are normally'held, and means, sub stantially such as described, for securing said support and guide upon said shaft.

15. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of apaper-carriage, means, substantially such as described., for impelling said carriage step by step in a given direction, a flexible shaft tending to impel said carriage in the opposite direction, a toothed ,wheel secured to one extremity of said flexible shaft,

and means, substantially such as described..

groove, and a series of levers respectively hav- A ing their bearings in said Vertical slots.`

17. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a series of type, means, substantially such as described, for actuating any one of said type, an ink-ribbonnormally held away from said type, two stationary ribbon-rolls, a guide for said ribbon, and means, substantially such as described, for causing said guide to move said ribbon into the path of the type which is to be imprinted.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed niy naine this 4th day of April A. D. 1883.

ROBERT J. SHEEHY. Vitnes'ses:

CHARLEs A. TERRY, CARRIE E. DAVIDSON. 

